ABSTRACT
Heine Spinoza approached law from the point of view of wisdom and science. He inherited from the Scholastic tradition a sense of order, a way of looking at society that was essentially legal. Spinoza gave much attention to the development of a method that would yield the knowledge necessary for virtue. From the tradition of legal speculation Spinoza inherited a variety of types of law which he proceeded to sort out. Spinoza's justification of the theory of the dictates of reason is carefully worked out, and with him it is completely a moral doctrine; however, it is associated with his theory of law. The aim of Spinoza's thought was to devise the principles by which a dominion would be so ordered that of necessity, rulers and governed alike, whether they will or no, should do what makes for the general welfare. From the Reformation Spinoza had inherited an individualistic tradition which no doubt helped to color his views on liberty.
